A camping fridge that quits halfway to the Kalahari is no small thing. Camp fridge repair is a specialist job, because most good 12 V fridges use a small compressor driven by an electronic control board, and many faults turn out to be power supply problems rather than the fridge itself. Before your next trip, test it at home on the same battery and cables you use on the road. If it still fails, describe the fridge and the fault, and technicians near you quote you directly. Sending a request is free, with no obligation.
Check the power before the fridge
Low voltage is behind a large share of camping fridge complaints. A thin or long cable, a loose cigarette-socket plug or a tired battery can drop the voltage enough for the fridge to switch itself off to protect the battery. Try these first:
- Run the fridge from mains power through its own adapter, if it has one. If it works there, look at your 12 V wiring.
- Check the plug and socket for heat marks or loose contacts.
- Measure the battery voltage while the compressor starts.
- Look at the low-voltage cut-out setting on the fridge.
Faults a technician can fix
Once the power is ruled out, common faults are a failed control board, a fan that has stopped, a broken lid seal or hinge, and loose connections from corrugated roads. Gas leaks happen too, often after a fall or a crushed pipe. Like any fridge, a 12 V compressor fridge runs on refrigerant in a sealed loop, so low gas means a leak; see fridge gas refill for how a proper regas works. Absorption fridges that run on gas or 12 V heating are a different design, so say which type you have.
Finding the right technician
Not every fridge technician works on 12 V units. Ask whether they repair camping fridges regularly and whether they can get boards and parts for your model. Give the model number from the plate on the fridge. Some technicians want the fridge brought to their workshop for testing on a bench supply. For a household fridge or freezer, see fridge repair instead.
What drives the price
Camping fridge repairs are quoted per job, after the technician has tested the unit. The price depends on whether the fault is a simple wiring or seal problem, a control board that has to be ordered, or sealed system work with a regas. Ask for the diagnosis and the full price in writing before you approve the repair, and what guarantee is given on parts and labour, in writing.
What to include in your request
- Model number from the plate on the fridge
- Compressor or absorption type
- What happens: cuts out, no cooling, error light
- Does it work on mains power?
- Date of your next trip
Camping Fridge Repair for different clients
- Households: a family's 12 V fridge freezer that failed on the last trip to the coast
- Landlords, guest houses and B&Bs: a 4x4 and camping hire outfit keeping its fleet of fridges working
- Shops, cafes and supermarkets: an outdoor shop sending customers' camping fridges for testing and repair
- Restaurants, butcheries and caterers: a mobile caterer's 12 V fridge used at markets and outdoor events
- Farms, packhouses and dairies: a camping fridge kept on a bakkie for long days out on the farm
- Factories and cold stores: site vehicles carrying 12 V fridges for teams working far from town
- Schools, clinics and public buildings: a school outdoor education camp with several cool boxes to check
- Technicians and repairers: technicians who repair 12 V boards and regas small camping fridges
Frequently asked questions
Why does my camp fridge keep switching off?
Can a 12 V fridge freezer be regassed?
How much does camping fridge repair cost?
Does FridgeRepair.co.za fix camping fridges?
Camping Fridge Repair by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg